January 2012 Babies

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I'm curious, how do you plan to refer to private parts?

Hazel1981 wrote:

I'm totally curious, how do you plan to refer to private parts with your kids. I was raised with "down there" and don't want to repeat this cycle. Nina know about her vagina and calls it that. But she does refer to my "boobies" and I don't correct her to say " breasts". I just a lot of slang for private parts, like wee wee or vajajay on the board (and my old home board). And I have friends who are uncomfortable using the correct terminology with their kids. What do you guys think? Does it matter? What will you use?

@Hazel1981 My bf says bird and muss so well prob stick with that since my ds says bird anyway. and he calls them my boobies too and I don't correct him.

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doreydo

@Hazel1981 I don't think it matters, but we just had this conversation the other night. I have an 8 moth old. I called it his penis, boobs, balls, whatever. I'm trying to be relaxed about it, but also not confuse him. I'll probably change my ways 10 times. Lol.

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oxrictusempraxo

Hahaha this makes me think of what both my grandparents and my parents have always called the private parts, and thus what I grew up calling them: a 'buggy' for a girl's and a 'jeeber' for a boy's! Hahah definitely not using those for my LO! I still have nightmares just thinking about my dad saying, 'Make sure to clean your buggy!'

@Hazel1981 I say penis, testicles, breasts and for women (I have 2 boys, one 7 one 9) I use the term front butt. Lol, a tad passive but so far, the 7 year old thinks my in utero baby is going to be cut out through my knee. I don't have the heart quite yet to explain to them what a vagina is because they've never seen one!

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jackyfary

@Annem2012 I grew up saying "private parts" and I like that because it teaches that genitals are private and no one but your mom and dad should see them. I did know the correct terms for them also, but always felt more confortable saying"privates"

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Emma32245

My two year old DD says boobies and she calls her vagina her tush.

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Maz_Jo

@Hazel1981 I'll refer to them by their proper names. I think cutesy words like "cookie" for vagina & "winky" for penis kinda creep me out! :)

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Aderpooh

@Hazel1981 Growing up, I knew the proper terms very early but still referred to vaginas as "pee-pees" and penises as "peckers". I will discuss w/ dh what we will tell our twins!

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ktrod13

Yea, we use the real names. Â Penis. Vagina. Â We do use "boobs" though. Â It was weird for a while when the kids would talk about penis and vagina all day LOL! Â But I think it's important for them to know what they are actually Â called and not feel like they are dirty words! Â If they want to refer to them as something cutesy, I don't care, but I don't and I wanted them to know the real words for them first. Â

:)

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Sarah_1986

@ktrod13 I am the same way with DD. She knows what all her body parts are called -- I don't use 'cute' words. I think by using slang it gives the child the impression there is something wrong with those parts, something they need to be secretive and quiet about when in reality they are nothing to be ashamed of.

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KindieTeacher

We tell 18mo ds he has a penis. This comes up often, because every time he sees an animal with a tail, he points to his diaper. "That's your penis, NOT a tail" is said a lot in my house..I am way more comfortable with "penis" than "vagina" but will try my best to use it if we have a girl. I read that children who's parents are comfortable telling them the proper names for genitals are less likely to be victims of ongoing abuse, because it's harder for someone to convince them to keep it a secret. I don't know, but it's worth a try, so I will make the attempt to choke out "vagina" when I have to. Already dreading it, I hate that word (and "squat" too).

Â

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Soon2bmomof32012

@Hazel1981 I know it's no longer "popular" but we say wee wee and hiney. Haven't had to come up with something for vagina yet since they don't know what one is although they do know girls don't have wee-wees.Idk, just my opinion, I think too much emphasis is placed on calling things by their "proper names" these days. While we do use "cutesy" names, I am actually very open in talking about body parts and functions. I believe in answering questions honestly, if they're old enough to care and to ask, then they're old enough to hear the truth. I've even tried explaining a vaginal child birth to my 5 yr. old in terms he can understand because he was terrified this baby was going to "break my belly" when it comes out. He asked me how the baby got in my belly once and I told him daddy put it there. He was fine with that explanation, but if he needed me to explain more, I would have.The time will come when we explain "proper terms," but I'm going to let it come naturally. I think as long as you're open to your kids, it really doesn't matter what you call it. It's more about attitude than what words you use.

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ally20102012

For now with my son being 18 months, I say weewee or weeny. I dont think he needs to know technicality until eh, maybe 5. Just because I dont feel like a child should go around saying those words... My cousins joke around naming parts...i dont really feel like that is acceptable for children.. But I dont think they were taught that those are only your parts.. So idk. I guess it all depends on the parents and how it is taught.. I dont believe your siblings should be naming your parts.. Just creepy. And if anyone(child or adult) ever touched my childs parts.... Theyd get a beat down. Lol.

@jackyfary I like that too. Kids need to know that they aren't "public parts".

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ktrod13

@KindieTeacher lol kindie, "vagina" was a hard one for me to say too! Â For some reason, "penis" was no problem, but "vagina" made me blush lmao! Â Â Go figure, right??? Â Â But now it's no big deal....it only took a couple year...hahaÂ

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AMorris1201

@Hazel1981 One of my best friends has her DD call it a vagina and if my DD goes to school talking about her vagina ill just die!!! We say hiney and tt. But again, I'm from Texas. :) I'm having a boy and we will probably call his a tt too.

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KindieTeacher

@ktrod13 :) A few years isn't too long I guess. Thank God I don't teach grade 5 health!!

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